Police say robbery of Payless shoe store in Hamilton was an inside job

HAMILTON — Two people have been arrested and charged with the gunpoint robbery last week of a Payless shoe store that police believe was an inside job.

The gunman was assisted in the robbery by a store employee, who allegedly unlocked the door to allow him in the building, then told police the place had been robbed, Lt. Remo DiPaolo said yesterday.

“They interviewed her from the standpoint of being the victim,” he said.

Two employees were in the shop on the 1700 block of Nottingham Way the evening of May 3 when the robber came in, pointed a gun, and ordered the workers into a back room. He took $700 from the register before fleeing, police said.

Detective Ken Warner began the investigation that night, speaking with employee Gabriel Jenkins. The 20-year-old woman from Bordentown Township was arrested that same night and charged with robbery since she allegedly opened the door and collaborated with the suspect, police said.

Warner quickly identified the suspect as 23-year-old unemployed Morrisville, Pa., resident Cleon Johnson Jr., who was arrested by the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force late in the afternoon on Tuesday.

Johnson was taken into custody without resistance and charged with robbery and weapons offenses, police said.